Ideas to make money

[nienie]

I am thinking of perhaps looking for a way to make a little bit of money (mostly because I am fed up of being harrassed by my grandparents to get a job), but I really have no inclination or motivation to work if I will be stuck in a store, or behind a bar serving people.

As it stands I am currently a university student and I have never had a job.
I have no obvious talents or any particular skills.

Does anyone have any ideas of what sort of things I could do to earn a little money without having to do bar or cashier work?

[Brutha]

As it stands I am currently a university student and I have never had a job.

What subject?

[nienie]

Originally Posted by Brutha

What subject?

History... although with hindsight it was a bad choice.

[Rae of Light]

Could you tutor?

[Mounds]

Making money is actually pretty easy. Finding desirable work is a little harder.

I know that I have lots of marketable skills. For example, I'm a certified arborist. But at the end of a fifty hour workweek, I'm not too interested in pruning trees to make extra money. I'd much rather work from my house.

So now the next thing comes up. I really don't have any marketable skills that I can freelance from home. Here's the part where I normally fail. A year ago, I would say, "Damn. That sucks". Nowadays, I say, "No problem". If I don't have those skills, I'm going to acquire them.

I started something called The Fifty Skill Challenge. Aquire fifty skills in one year. I'm still on my first one but I am immediately noticing something. I'm going to become one of those guys who can freelance from home. On top of that, it's going to be easy because I'm not doing it for money. You'll find that if you try to learn something with money as your primary goal, it's really tough.

In terms of what you can actually do to make money, I'm not too sure. If you have no marketable skills and aren't interested in a job, then I suggest learning things that you can make money with. Check out Fiverr for some ideas

[nienie]

Originally Posted by Mounds

In terms of what you can actually do to make money, I'm not too sure. If you have no marketable skills and aren't interested in a job, then I suggest learning things that you can make money with. Check out Fiverr for some ideas

Thankyou for your input. That website looks quite useful, I am suprised that people are willing to pay $5 for some of the things listed on that site.

I guess I will probably have to work on getting skills myself as I have a tendency to start learning something and then getting bored with it. My only consistent hobby is drawing and I am not remotely close to a marketable level yet.

[Grandiouse]

I really like to comment about trying to learn and acquire new skills or finding something that you like instead of just focusing on the money.

I am in the same situation. I am making money from a part time job but it is not what I want to do - so it becomes stressful.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Making money is actually pretty easy. Finding desirable work is a little harder.

I know that I have lots of marketable skills. For example, I'm a certified arborist. But at the end of a fifty hour workweek, I'm not too interested in pruning trees to make extra money. I'd much rather work from my house.

So now the next thing comes up. I really don't have any marketable skills that I can freelance from home. Here's the part where I normally fail. A year ago, I would say, "Damn. That sucks". Nowadays, I say, "No problem". If I don't have those skills, I'm going to acquire them.

Off topic, I know, but have you thought about starting an online arborist consulting practice? People can sent you in questions via email and you answer them for a few dollars...?
Things like:
- what tree would fit best in my garden if I want A, B and C and I live in X
- My tree seems ill, what can I do
- how can I eliminate spiders from my tree without killing the tree
- etc.

[Mounds]

Although I'm certified, I'm not terribly experienced. It is a good idea, I'm just not the right man for the job. I'd need a few years in the trade before I could do that.

I'm happy you like Fiverr nienie. I've bought two gigs on there and I'm really happy with the results. You can't beat the value. If you can find something that you can do well and fairly quickly, you could make a buck. Proof-reading papers comes to mind. If you can proof-read a paper and add some suggestions within 15-20 minutes, that might be worthwhile.

[Agota]

I believe that you must have some skills that can be monetized - maybe you are unable to see them. Tell us more about yourself, like your hobbies, etc, then it would be easier to give an advice.

[nienie]

Originally Posted by Agota

I believe that you must have some skills that can be monetized - maybe you are unable to see them. Tell us more about yourself, like your hobbies, etc, then it would be easier to give an advice.

Hobbies: Drawing cartoon characters, internet browsing, playing RPG games, singing and dancing come to mind currently. I tend to dip in and out of various things but I have no real consistent passions. I have the problem that none of my hobbies are things which can be monetised, which is why I did not include them in my original post.

I am a second-year History student at University, although I am currently struggling with my course, and the pressure is on to find something to do once I leave university next year.

[SlicK]

I have the problem that none of my hobbies are things which can be monetised, which is why I did not include them in my original post.

You can make money out of almost anything. And there's no need to take my word for it. Just carefully look around, everywhere, and you'll see it for yourself.

ALMOST anyone can produce something of value. The problem we have is that we don't know how to deliver that value. Some people are so good with delivering that they don't even bother with quality. You can also see examples of this everywhere. There is need for a lot of things. That's how you make money: creating something that somebody else needs. Someone needs something that you can create but HOW DO YOU DELIVER to that person? How does he find you or how do you find him? The internet certainly made this part easier than ever before. Some think that the problem is that it is overcrowded and while that may be true, it isn't THE PROBLEM. It's just a small impediment. Why? because it's overcrowded with crap, quality stuff eventually surfaces and gets noticed. And quality stuff doesn't necessarily mean A+ product or service. B- or C- is also acceptable.

I don't think anyone can be told how to do something in the way that if somebody tells you EXACTLY how they did something, you can follow the same steps and get there. Someone can show you the road but you have to walk on it.

[ssandra]

Idea;

Have people sent you their pictures and make a cartoon for them.

You can package it as birthday, aniversary and holiday gifts.

For example: people who are married for 1, 5, 10 years might want a cartoon of how they first met... as a memory.

Birthdays; a cartoon of a big even in their past.

[Agota]

Sandra, that's genius!

Nienie, my advice would be to pay attention to what Sandra said

You could also draw comics on a request.

I think if you'd be able to market this, you could create an online business with that, since these would be cool gifts and they can be delivered in a digital format.

[Agota]

I mean, doing that offline should pay off as well

[Jeebles]

You could become an affiliate, which involves selling products for other companies in return for commission. It is a lot of work, but it pays off. If you pm me your email addy I can send you a PDF to get you started.

[waizen]

Originally Posted by nienie

I am thinking of perhaps looking for a way to make a little bit of money (mostly because I am fed up of being harrassed by my grandparents to get a job), but I really have no inclination or motivation to work if I will be stuck in a store, or behind a bar serving people.

As it stands I am currently a university student and I have never had a job.
I have no obvious talents or any particular skills.

Does anyone have any ideas of what sort of things I could do to earn a little money without having to do bar or cashier work?

((sigh))

Sorry, but you're really going to have to reassess your mindset here. There are times when you need to get up off your butt and do things you don't want to do. It's all part of life and, really, it all gives you life experience...even the boring stuff.

You admit to not having skills and admit to not doing well in school. But it's you who has the ability to change that and do something about it, even if it means doing the stuff you think is beneath you (it's not). All the boring stuff adds up to give you skills...more than you know.

I've learned stuff from working in retail stores and working in warehouses doing overnight shifts. I also learned stuff when I worked my 'real' jobs in television and computer graphics and animation doing all kinds of really cool things. It all adds up.

No skills? You've just showed your talent for getting some of us to do your thinking for you. I really do wish you well but it's time to grow up.

[CroMagna]

^^ Listen to him.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Rae of Light

Could you tutor?

Seconded. As a college student, you do have skills that you can leverage - academic ones. Tutoring / giving private lessons is probably one of the most lucrative activities you can have as a student, with an excellent time investment to profit ratio.
When I was in university, I tutored high schoolers in maths, physics and chemistry for 15 euros an hour and with close to zero prep work (most of the time I just helped the students through their homework, redid the proofs from their lessons together or gave them a practice exam). That's really hard to beat.

That's if you just want some money now. The other approach is to get a low paying job but that will give you interesting skills, experience, give you an entry point into the career of your choice ; or start an activity that can bring you passive income or exponential income. The first strategy is to get money now, the second is an investment to get better money later.